Money-saving expert Martin Lewis has issued a stark warning to the nation's unpaid carers, urging them not to trust the information provided by their local councils regarding a vital Council Tax discount. An investigation by his MoneySavingExpert.com (MSE) team has revealed that at least one in five councils in England and Wales are publishing incorrect or incomplete eligibility criteria online.
Widespread Misinformation Uncovered
The MSE team conducted a comprehensive audit of over 200 council websites, PDFs, and application forms. They discovered that at least 69 councils are displaying information that wrongly suggests far fewer people qualify for the live-in Carer Council Tax discount than the law actually allows. A further 80 councils failed to provide any easily accessible online details about the qualifying benefits needed to claim.
This discount is significant, offering a 25% or 50% reduction on a Council Tax bill. For many, a 25% discount translates to around £500 saved every year. The investigation suggests this widespread misinformation is likely deterring many of the up to five million unpaid carers from claiming what they are legally entitled to.
Regions with Incorrect Information
The problem is nationwide. In the East Midlands alone, ten councils were found to have wrong information, including Bolsover, Derby, Harborough, and High Peak. The issue spans every region:
- West Midlands: Lichfield, Sandwell, Stoke-on-Trent.
- London: Barnet, Bromley, Camden, Hounslow.
- South East: Brighton and Hove, Slough, Windsor and Maidenhead.
- Yorkshire and the Humber: Sheffield, Wakefield, North Yorkshire.
- Wales: Denbighshire, Merthyr Tydfil.
Martin Lewis stated: “Unpaid carers can’t trust councils’ information about Carers’ Council Tax discounts. All Carers who thought they weren’t eligible after checking councils’ websites should check again.” He advised using the help pages provided by Carers UK for accurate guidance.
A Lifeline Denied to the 'Backbone of Care'
Lewis emphasised the immense contribution and sacrifice of unpaid carers, who provide an estimated £184 billion worth of support to the UK economy annually. “Thirty-five hours a week of unpaid caring is no small feat,” he said. “This army... provides a silent and often un-thanked backbone that takes a burden off the NHS and care system.”
He expressed outrage that those under immense financial strain are being misled about hundreds of pounds in support. The situation is exacerbated because the main Gov.uk pages on Council Tax also fail to list the qualifying benefits for the discount, making it even harder for people in England to self-assess.
Helen Walker, chief executive of Carers UK, highlighted the crisis: “Nearly half (49%) of unpaid carers have cut back on essentials in the past year... It’s simply unacceptable that carers are presented with the wrong information when they are so urgently in need of help. This could be a lifeline for many families.”
Martin Lewis confirmed that MSE is writing to all the implicated councils, demanding they update their websites urgently. He is also reporting the systemic failure to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, calling for a clear plan to ensure Council Tax information is accurate and accessible. He urged any carer who missed out due to poor information to request a backdated discount to their point of first eligibility.
